‘Greeter’ gets brighter smile

That historic emblem of Laguna Beach, the statue of Eiler Larsen, “The Greeter,” has a new coat ? of paint, that is.

Located on the site of the Old Pottery Place ? formerly the Pottery Shack ? “The Greeter” peers out at traffic from behind a barricade but will soon be stationed at a permanent post, beckoning passersby to the newly redeveloped retail center that has been his home since the 1960s.

The sun-soaked and formerly weather-beaten statue now sports a crisp new coat of paint and a refurbished body, courtesy of the new owner of the property.

When the property was purchased, the statue was found in a state of disrepair, the Old Pottery Place spokesperson Leslie Cunningham said.

To restore the statue, a sandblaster was first used to remove the many layers of paint and previous patching, getting the statue down to its bare surface, Cunningham said.

Then the concrete king was placed into the hands of local artist and Arts Commission Chairman Mike Tauber to bring the statue back to a state of glory.

Before starting the painting process, Tauber took time to look into the history of Larsen and the statue that honors him.

Originally from Denmark, Larsen came to Laguna in 1942. Known for waving to people driving by on the corner of Forest Avenue and Coast Highway, he was named the Official Greeter by the city in 1963, Cunningham said.

“In my research, I looked through catalogs of postcards and photographs from the Laguna Beach Historical Society,” Tauber said. “I looked at photos of the man himself and also of the statue to match all the original colors. I wanted to make sure I restored it properly.”

Tauber then used his portrait-painting techniques, bringing the cold stone back to life, as he reapplied the warm familiar smile with an artistic touch.

“I wanted it to feel like I was doing an actual portrait,” Tauber said. “I treated the sculpture like a painting. I wanted to enhance the features. I arched the eyebrows and rounded his cheekbones to make him softer and more jovial.”

After four days of work, the statue restoration was finished, and Tauber said he appreciated the reaction that he received from passersby.

“A lot of people came up to me to say that it looked the best they’ve ever seen it,” he said.

But Tauber knows that this project was about more than just a job well done.

“I think our history is one of our greatest assets. That’s what gives our city culture and what makes it attractive,” Tauber said. “It’s one of the things that separates Laguna Beach from anywhere else in Orange County. I’m just so grateful to have been a part of this restoration process.”

Tauber also repainted other historic pieces on the site, such as the life-sized wood silhouette called “The Potter.”

Construction of the Old Pottery Place is nearing completion, with stores beginning to open toward the end of the month, Cunningham said in a news release. cpt.23-greeter-CPhotoInfo1K1S8AGJ20060623j1a149nc(LA)”The Greeter” and its restorer and artist Mike Tauber.